In a first, four sitting judges of the Supreme Court of India held a press conference on Friday saying that the administration of the country’s highest court was not in order. The judges also warned that democracy would not survive in the country unless the institution was preserved.

The conference that highlighted the growing rift between senior justices and the Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, was held at Justice Chelameswar’s residence in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Congress says “democracy is in danger”. The party’s official Twitter handle says: “We are very concerned to hear 4 judges of the Supreme Court expressed concerns about the functioning of the Supreme Court. #IndianDemocracyInDanger,”.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to law minister RS Prasad about the allegations made by the 4 Supreme Court judges.

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra to address the media at 2 pm, Attorney General to also accompany him, reports ANI news agency.

Talking to media, Justice RS Sodhi (Retd) said I think all four judges should be impeached, they have no business to sit there and deliver verdicts anymore. This trade unionism is wrong. Democracy in danger is not for them to say. We have parliament, courts, police functioning:

Supreme Court judges in letter to CJI said we are not mentioning details only to avoid embarrassing the institution but note that such departures have already damaged the image of this institution to some extent.